This book is about effective literacy instruction for students in grades K-4 who use the language variety that many linguists call African American English, but

What communicative experiences are particular to African Americans? How do many African Americans define themselves culturally? How do they perceive intracultur

Provides information for teachers and schools on literacy instruction for African American adolescent males.

Provides cultural and historical background on African-American language systems, encourages the development of a positive attitude toward these languages, and

Offers a review of sociolinguistic research and practice aimed at improving education for students who speak vernacular varieties of US English, English-based C